The Japanese laid the morning paper on the table and discreetly withdrew. Floyd looking over the headings, sprang to his feet.
“War?”
Julie gave a startled cry.
“You won’t go, you won’t leave me alone.”
“I must do my duty.”
He went down to see Colonel Garland. The office was in a whirl of excitement. The Colonel was prancing like an old war horse. Everybody was talking at once. It had to come; the President had put it off too long; some were for, some against it, but the fact was there—the United States had thrown her hat into the ring. Floyd’s face was flushed, his eyes shining.
“I’m going to volunteer.”
The Colonel looked grave.
“Wait, let the single men go first.”
Floyd couldn’t be held back; every man he knew had volunteered. He met Tom Dillon with a little flag stuck in his buttonhole, his hat set jauntily on the side of his head.